The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs has raised concerns about the role of the World Bank in the Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation Project. The committee alleged that changes linked to the lender increased the project’s cost by nearly Rs. 14 billion.
The issue was discussed during a committee meeting held to review externally funded development projects. Lawmakers questioned whether the World Bank went beyond its role as a financing institution by influencing the project’s design and implementation.
According to the committee, the lender should decide whether to finance a project but should not take part in its technical planning or execution. Some lawmakers argued that these responsibilities belong to Pakistan’s own government departments.
The committee chairman claimed that changes introduced under external pressure significantly raised the overall cost of the project. He said Pakistan could have saved around Rs. 14 billion if the original project design had remained unchanged.
The chairman also stated that the country should protect its financial interests when negotiating externally funded projects. He stressed that Pakistan should not accept conditions that increase project costs unnecessarily.
Officials attending the meeting informed lawmakers that the estimated cost of the Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation Project had increased substantially.
The Chairman of the Planning and Development Department told the committee that the project is now expected to cost nearly twice its original estimate. However, no revised final project cost was shared during the meeting.
Several committee members questioned whether the increased costs were directly linked to changes suggested during the financing process. They called for greater transparency in the planning and approval of major development projects.
One senator said the World Bank should focus on approving or rejecting financing requests instead of influencing technical decisions. He maintained that project design should remain under the control of Pakistan’s relevant authorities.
The discussion also referred to the Peshawar–Torkham project. A senator claimed that similar concerns had been raised in the past regarding financing conditions attached to that project.
According to the senator, the committee had previously intervened to safeguard Pakistan’s financial interests. He urged the government to take a similar approach in the current case.
The allegations discussed during the meeting have not been independently verified. The committee’s remarks reflect concerns raised by lawmakers during the proceedings.
ProPakistani contacted the World Bank to seek its response to the allegations. However, no reply had been received at the time of publication. The report said the story would be updated if the lender issues an official statement.
The Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation Project is one of several externally funded development initiatives currently under review. The latest committee discussion has highlighted ongoing debate over the balance between international financing and national decision-making in public development projects.
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The matter is expected to receive further attention as lawmakers continue reviewing externally funded projects and examine their financial and technical arrangements.
